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Patron Christian Saints of Dogs by Lynda Long

I have always loved animals-primarily dogs. I have had four dogs in my life and each ofthem brought a different strength to my life...not to even mention the unconditional love. If humans were like dogs, the world would be a much better place.

With that in mind, I began wondering if dogs had guardian angels looking over them. While I was always sure that they did, I wanted to know if there were any Saints, asrecognized by the Catholic Church that particularly aided dogs. Here is what I found:

St. Francis of Assisi-Patron Saint of Animals:

Born in northern Italy (at Assisi in Umbria) in 1181 and christened Giovanni (John) afterJohn the Baptist, this saint began life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, PietroBernadone. Johns father was French and as such, he nicknamed him Francesco(Francis), the little Frenchman. As a youth, Francis was extravagant, carefree andloved by everyone. He was a natural leader and while growing up he became the leaderof a group of young people who spent their nights at wild parties and who wereaccustomed to vice.

Francis wanted to be a knight. He got his chance when Assisi declared war on their longtime enemy, Perugia. Most of the troops from Assisi died in the fight; however, Franciswas taken prisoner (because of his wealth) and held for ransom. After a year in thedungeon in Perugia, Francis ransom was paid and he was set free. Still wanting to bea knight with all of the glory attached to that title, a call for the knights for the FourthCrusade gave him a chance for his dream. He suited up with a suit of armor decoratedwith gold, and he boasted that he would return a Prince. But within one days ride fromAssisi, he had a dream in which God told him to return home, and despite the humiliationfrom the townspeople, he did return home. But Francis did not change overnight. He didbegin to spend more time in prayer, went off to a cave and wept for his sins. But therewas still a business to run...he could not give himself totally over to God.

But on a pilgrimage to Rome, that all changed. He gave up his rich attire and donned abeggars garb and began ministering to those suffering from the Black Death.

After the pilgrimage to Rome, at the age of 26, while praying at a chapel in San Damianothat had fallen into ruin, he heard an image of Christ say to him Repair my fallenHouse. Francis took this literally and began the necessary repairs on the little chapel. However, Francis had no money of his own and so to pay for the restoration, he stolebolts of cloths from his fathers warehouse. This angered his father so much that hethrew Francis out of the house and disinherited him. This was a turning point and afreeing moment for Francis and he spent the rest of his life emphasizing poverty,humility and discipline. Within 15 years, Francis was the leader of 5,000 Friars Minor(a Monk Order) and a growing Order of Nuns, Poor Clares.

Francis is remembered not so much as a religious organizer but as a charismatic exampleand a compassionate soul for the unusual. It is believed that he preached sermons tobirds and entered into a peace treaty with a wolf so that the wolf would no longerterrorize a town. In 1224, he was granted the Stigmata (the mark of Christs fivewounds) on his own body. He died in 1226 at age 45 and is enshrined in the basilica ofAssisi bearing his name...although he would much have preferred a paupers grave. He isconsidered to be the founder of all Franciscan orders.

St. Dwynwen (Dwyn) of Tolentino-Patron Saint of Sick Animals:

Dwyn was a 5th century Welsh maiden from a wealthyfamily. Her father was a Welsh Saint and king, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. Shehad her love troubles, however. The story is that Dwyn fell madly in love with a Welshprince named Maelon Dafodrill. A marriage was planned but it was not to be. As St.Dwyn distanced herself from Maelon, his bitterness toward her became unbearable. Heartbroken, Dwyn accepted a heavenly potion offered to her by an Angel appearing toher in a dream to soothe her heartache. However, the angel failed to tell her the effect ofthe potion on Maelon, who was turned into stone (or ice according to other accounts)once administered to him. Appalled, Dwyn requested and was granted three wishes fromthe angel: That Maelon be restored to lifeThat all True Lovers that invoke her name either achieve their hearts desires orrecover quickly from disappointmentThat she not marry or wish toDwyn committed her life to God and founded a convent on what is now Llanddwynisland, just off the Isle of Angeles. Within that Abbess, there is a miraculous spring(Ffynnon Dwynwen) wherein, from the movement of the fish, the adept can tell thefuture. One other interesting fact, the water works wonders with sick animals. Over timeDwyns name was invoked to heal sick and distressed animals, a tradition that hassurvived even today.

The ruins of Llanddwyn chapel, a 16th century Tudor church, can still be seen. Moreover, her name lives on in the town of Porthddwyn and a church dedicated to hercan be found in Cornwall.

St. Roch- Patron Saint of Dog Lovers:

St. Roch was a French Saint born in 1293. He enjoyed a wealthy and privileged youth asthe son of the governor of Montpellier. However, he was orphaned at 20 and decided togive all his property to the poor and handed over the city government to his uncle. Hethen began a pilgrimage to Rome disguised as a mendicant pilgrim where he nursed thevictims of the Plague/Black Death, where he was often successful in miraculous resultswith these victims.

Roch became infected with the Plague himself at Piacenza and stopped his ministry as heknew he would be contagious to others. He went into the forest to die alone but wasbefriended by a dog (and later the master) who would bring him food snatched from hismasters (Gothard) table. Roch finally recovered, thanks to the nutrition andcompanionship offered by the dog and his master and he decided to return to Montpellier. Because of his illness, no one recognized him and he was thrown into a dungeon as hewas thought to be a spy. There Roch died at the age of 32 after 5 years in the prison in1327. Once dead, he was finally recognized by a family member by an X-Shapedbirthmark on his breast and his family grieved over his horrible death. He was given apublic funeral and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.

In 1414, during the Council of Constance, the black plague was rampant, The Fathers ofthe Council ordered public prayers and processions in honor of St. Roch and immediatelythe plague ceased. St. Rochs relics were carried to Venice in 1485 where they are stillvenerated. The letters VSR (Viva Saint Roch) were once inscribed over mostdoorways in Europe as protection against pestilence.

St. Anthony the Great-Patron Saint of Domestic Animals:

Anthony was born in Memphis, Egypt in 251 to wealthy parents. When he was 20 yearsold, his parents died and left him to care for his unmarried sister. After hearing the wordsof Jesus instructing him to sell what you have and give to them poor as your rewardwould be treasures in heaven, he gave up his wealth to the poor and needy. He alsoplaced his sister in the care of a group of Christian Virgins, similar to a nunnery. He leftMemphis for the desert living in a tomb and doing battle with the devil. The devilafflicted him with boredom, laziness and phantoms of women which he overcame by thepower of prayer. He wore sackcloth and never washed his body or his feet and spenthis time in intense prayer. He attracted admirers from the local villages who would bringhim food and water. Once again the devil played havoc with Anthony and rendered himunconscious after beating him mercilessly. When the local villagers found him in thiscondition, they carried him to a church to provide a haven for recovery.

Once recovered, he returned to his hermit-like life, living in an old abandoned fort forsome 20 years. He communicated to the outside through a crevice in the fort in whichfood and water could be passed. He did not allow anyone to enter his cell- those whosought his counsel listened from the outside. The devil again began to torture Anthony,only this time the phantoms were in the form of wild beasts, lions, snakes and scorpions. But Anthony would laugh at them, invoke the name of God and the phantoms would turnto smoke.

Eventually, he did emerge from the fort with the help of villagers tearing a wall down. While all expected him to be wasted away or insane from his isolation, he emergedhealthy, serene and enlightened. He was hailed as a hero and his fame began to spread. Anthony returned to his fort after confirming the followers in Fayyum in the Christianfaith. He wanted to be in isolation again, but people kept seeking his counsel, includingEmperor Constantine. Anthony did write Emperor Constantine a letter blessing him, andpraying for the peace and safety of the church and empire. Anthony realized that all ofthe visitors were keeping him away from his worship, so he traveled into the innerwilderness of the eastern Desert of Egypt. When he found a spring of water and palmtrees, he decided to settle there. On occasion, he would go to the outskirts of the desertby the Nile to visit his brethren and then return to his inner sanctuary. At hisrecommendation, all his followers took up mat-weaving and brush making so that idlehands would not be the devils playmate. On this spot now stands the Monastery ofAnthony the Great.

When Anthony determined that his day of departure had come, he gave away hisbelongings and stretched out on the ground and gave up his spirit. He instructed two ofhis brethren to bury him secretly, and to this day, the grave-site is unknown. The yearwas 356 and he was 105 years old. Many miracles are attributed to this religious father.

In Christian Iconography, Anthony is portrayed by the smallest bell in the carillon andthe smallest pig in a litter....referred to as Tantony.

His biography can be found in the book entitled Life of Saint Anthony the Great writtenby St. Athanasius. Many stories are also told of him in various collections of sayings onthe Desert Fathers.

These four saints are those who protect dogs, healthy and afflicted. It is good to knowthat these giving creatures are cared for in a heavenly way. I hope you enjoyed thisinformation!

My name is Lynda Long and I recently left the corporate business world as a CPA after 31 years for a more peaceful existence. Since February 2006, I have concentrated on spending time with the people and things that bring me joy. Visit me at my website: http://www.2girls-creditcard.com !